We are losing our Groundwater! Here’s what’s to expect.

Groundwater depletion is increasingly becoming a critical environmental and socio-economic challenge globally. As the world’s population continues to grow, the demand for freshwater surges, placing immense pressure on groundwater resources. This growing threat to global sustainability influences ecosystems, agriculture, and human populations. This article delves into the causes and consequences of unsustainable groundwater extraction, highlighting its far-reaching effects on local and global climates.

Groundwater depletion occurs when water is withdrawn from aquifers faster than it can be naturally replenished. This imbalance is primarily driven by agricultural irrigation, industrial use, and domestic consumption. Agriculture alone accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, heavily relying on groundwater in arid and semi-arid regions. The excessive extraction of groundwater can lead to various adverse effects, including land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, drying of surface water resources, and local climate changeableness.

Groundwater depletion is not a distant threat but a pressing reality for many regions worldwide. For instance, Northwest India, Northeast Pakistan, the Central United States, and parts of China and Iran are experiencing significant depletion, raising concerns about long-term water security. California’s Central Valley and the Ogallala Aquifer in the Great Plains in the US have shown alarming levels of groundwater depletion due to extensive irrigation practices. In Mexico City, over-pumping for municipal water supply has led to notable subsidence and dwindling groundwater levels.

The Middle East, particularly Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, grapples with severe groundwater depletion as these countries extract water for both agricultural and urban uses beyond sustainable limits. Lebanon, a country known for its rich history and stunning Mediterranean coastline, faces significant groundwater depletion and saltwater intrusion at the coastal area, not forgetting the extensive groundwater depletion of the inner land at the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon’s breadbasket.

The most obvious impact of groundwater depletion is reduced water availability, which threatens food security and can lead to conflicts over water resources. Land subsidence, a common consequence of excessive groundwater extraction, damages infrastructure and alters landscapes. Reduced groundwater discharge into streams and rivers affects aquatic life and wetland habitats. Additionally, the lowering of water tables can degrade water quality, concentrating pollutants and making water unsafe for consumption and irrigation.

As water tables drop, wells run dry, jeopardizing drinking water supplies for communities and hindering irrigation for agriculture. This can lead to water scarcity, affecting everything from household needs to food security. Reduced agricultural productivity due to irrigation limitations can result in food shortages and price hikes.

Climate change exacerbates groundwater depletion by decreasing precipitation and increasing temperatures. Water plays a vital role in distributing and exchanging heat around the Earth through several key mechanisms, including ocean currents, phase changes, and interactions with the atmosphere. These processes regulate climate and weather, illustrating the dynamic and complex role of water in the Earth’s heat budget.
Understanding the role of water in global heat exchange processes is essential for studying climate variability and climate change. Groundwater depletion can affect local and global climates by altering the hydrological cycle and reducing the amount of water available for heat exchange.

Groundwater depletion is a growing concern, not just in well-studied regions but also in many areas where crucial data is lacking. These regions, often heavily reliant on groundwater for daily needs, face the specter of irreversible aquifer depletion. Addressing this issue requires urgent and coordinated efforts to manage groundwater resources sustainably, mitigate climate change impacts, and ensure water security for future generations.

This article is written by Dr. Ihab Jomaa, Researcher, Head Department of Irrigation and Agrometeorology, Director of Tal Amara Research Station.

For the full article, please visit: Climate Change: New Thoughts, Another Horizon.